Small-diameter metallic conduit

Abstract

A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine includes a stationary frame which is shaped so as to substantially conform to a finished metallic conduit. A bending member is provided movably toward the stationary frame from thereoutside to bend a metallic conduit. To prevent the bending member from interfering with the metallic conduit which is moving as the result of the bending process of a preceding stage, an actuator is provided to remove the bending member from the moving area of the metallic conduit. That is, the binding member is made movable toward the stationary frame and retractable from the moving area of the metallic conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine for bending small-diameter metallic conduit into a finished curved shape, said shape of said conduit including at least first and second curves defining at least first and second bend planes respectively, said bend planes being angularly aligned to one another, said bending machine comprising: a stationary frame which is formed by connecting bar stock or pipe stock into a shape substantially conforming to the finished curved shape of the metallic conduit over the whole length,   at least first and second bending sections provided in said stationary frame, said first bending section including an elongated first guide surface having a curvature smaller than the bend radius of the first curve of the metallic conduit in the lengthwise direction of the guide surface and being substantially orthogonal to the first bend plane of the metallic conduit in the widthwise direction, and said second bending section including a second guide surface which is substantially planar and substantially parallel to the second bend plane, said second bending section further including a guide member which is mounted to said stationary frame in a direction substantially orthogonal to said second guide surface and has a curvature smaller than the bend radius of the second curve of the metallic conduit,   a bending member which is moved by a actuator attached to said stationary frame and is selectively movable in a direction generally parallel to a selected one of said bend planes toward said stationary frame in a bending position for bending the metallic conduit to lie along a selected one of said first guide surface in said first bending section and said guide member in said second bending section, and   removing means for removing said bending member in a direction angularly aligned to the selected bend plane into a nonbending position away from said bending position when said bending member is to interfere with the metallic conduit which is moving as the result of the bending process at another one of said bending sections.   
     
     
       2. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine according to claim 1, wherein said removing means comprises rotating means for rotating said bending member away from the selected bend plane, said rotating means being pivoted to said stationary frame via a bracket for pivoting movement through a selected angle. 
     
     
       3. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine according to claim 1, wherein said removing means comprises an actuator which is spaced from the selected bend plane of said stationary frame and is operative to selectively extend said bending member toward and away from the selected bend plane. 
     
     
       4. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine according to claim 1, wherein said stationary frame is composed by welding bar stock or pipe stock. 
     
     
       5. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine according to claim 1, wherein said guide member provided in said second bending section is shaped like a plate piece or a block. 
     
     
       6. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine according to claim 1 wherein said removing means is operative to move said bending member in a direction generally orthogonal to the selected bend plane. 
     
     
       7. A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine for bending a small-diameter metallic conduit into a finished curved shape including a plurality of curves, each said curve defining a bend plane, said bending machine comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of elongated curved surfaces disposed generally in end-to-end alignment and in selected spaced relationship to one another to substantially conform to the finished curved shape of the metallic conduit over the whole length of the metallic conduit, each said curved surface defining a widthwise direction extending substantially orthogonal to a corresponding one of said bend planes of said conduit;   a plurality of bending members disposed in a bending position in proximity to at least selected ones of the curved surfaces of said frame, said bending members is said bending position being selectively and sequentially movable generally in the respective bend planes of the curved surfaces for bending the metallic conduit against the respective curved surfaces;   a plurality of bend actuators for selectively and sequentially moving the respective bend members in the respective bend planes toward and away from the corresponding curved surfaces of the frame to bend said metallic conduit; and   removing means for selectively moving at least one of said bending members in a direction angularly aligned to the respective bending plane into a nonbending position away from said bending position for preventing said bending member from interfering with the metallic conduit being bent by another of said bending members.   
     
     
       8. A bending machine as in claim 7 wherein the bend actuator comprises a piston/cylinder assembly extending between said frame and said bending member. 
     
     
       9. A bending machine as in claim 8 wherein the removing means is mounted to the piston/cylinder assembly and comprises means for moving the bending member in a direction orthogonal to the bend plane. 
     
     
       10. A bending machine as in claim 9 wherein the piston/cylinder assembly defining the bend actuators is a first piston/cylinder assembly, and wherein the removing means comprises a second piston/cylinder assembly mounted to the first piston/cylinder assembly for moving the bending member in a direction extending generally orthogonal to the respective bend plane. 
     
     
       11. A bending machine as in claim 7 wherein the removing means comprises means for pivoting the bend member away from the bend plane. 
     
     
       12. A bending machine as in claim 7 wherein a plurality of said bend planes are angularly aligned to one another.